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How OSHA Sets Standards for Workplace Safety

All employers in the United States are obligated by law to provide a reasonably safe and secure workplace for their employees. The federal agency in charge of these requirements is the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). 

OSHA oversees worker safety issues nationwide, providing training to employers, inspecting jobsites and enforcing safety standards. If the agency notices significant safety issues, it has the authority to levy fines, which may range from a few thousand dollars to $70,000 for each violation. Most private employers in the U.S. must meet OSHA’s standards, although self-employed people and workers who fall under the regulations of another agency are exempt.

As part of OSHA’s requirements, employers must keep their workplaces safe for employees and check regularly for possible violations. They must also provide workers with adequate training, safety equipment and medical exam (if necessary), and report all serious accidents to OSHA within eight hours of their occurrence. Companies must also keep sound records of all workplace accidents, injuries and deaths.

As a worker, it’s important for you to know about OSHA’s standards and your employer’s obligation to keep you relatively safe as you perform your job duties. All businesses and organizations should post workers’ rights under OSHA. It’s illegal for employers to retaliate against you for reporting an accident or potential safety violation.

This federal agency is in place to protect workers and help ensure the reduction of workplace injuries and deaths across the country. To get more information on OSHA and your employers’ obligations to provide a safe and secure environment, seek the counsel of an experienced Missouri workplace injury and workers’ compensation lawyer right away. 

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